What is BS EN 62037-5 - Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement about?
BS EN 62037 is a series on passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement. Radiofrequency (RF) and microwave filters represent a class of electronic filters, designed to operate on signals in the megahertz to gigahertz frequency ranges. BS EN 62037-5 defines test fixtures and procedures recommended for measuring levels of passive intermodulation generated by filters, typically used in wireless communication systems. The purpose is to define qualification and acceptance test methods for filters for use in low intermodulation (low IM) applications.
Who is BS EN 62037-5 - Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement for?
BS EN 62037-5 on passive RF and microwave devices is useful for:
- Telecommunication component manufacturers
- Telecommunication equipment manufacturers
- Design engineers
- Quality control personnel
Why should you use BS EN 62037-5 - Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement?
Radiofrequency (RF) and microwave filters are commonly used as building blocks for duplexers and diplexers to combine or separate multiple frequency bands. Testing filter assemblies for PIM may be error-prone if certain precautionary guidelines are not followed. Since passive intermodulation can be a frequency-dependent phenomenon, mathematically related to the harmonics of the input signals and combinations thereof, consideration should be given not only to the behaviour of the test set-up under fundamental stimulation but also its harmonic performance. In particular, consider a receive-band passive intermodulation test set-up as shown in BS EN 62037-5. As shown, this set-up could be used to measure the passive intermodulation in a two-port device under test (DUT); however, the accuracy of the measurement could be in question due to the back-to-back filters (diplexers) used.
While the diplexers certainly appear as a matched load around the fundamental frequencies and receive-band IM products, they may be very poorly matched at harmonics of the fundamentals. A poor match will set up a standing wave at the harmonic frequencies which may re-illuminate any passive intermodulation sources within the DUT with higher-than-typical current densities. Furthermore, the measured IM response will become highly dependent upon the electrical length of the DUT because the locations of the peaks and valleys of any standing waves will move with respect to the passive intermodulation sources as the electrical length of the DUT changes. Using BS EN 62037-5 you can define test fixtures and procedures recommended for measuring levels of passive intermodulation generated by filters, typically used in wireless communication systems.
